Bloody Britain

The Battle of Trafalgar

2004-01-01

Rory McGrath looks back at one of Britain's most famous military victories, the gory and glorious Battle of Trafalgar.

Bloody Mary

2004-01-08

Rory McGrath explores Mary Tudor's murderous reign, learning about various Tudor techniques for torture, and finds out how to burn a heretic.

The Bodysnatchers

2004-01-15

Rory McGrath investigates body snatching in 19th century London, travelling to graveyards and learning how to get a body out of a coffin.

The Siege of Rochester

2004-01-22

Rory McGrath finds out how King John was able to burn down Rochester Castle in 1215 using the fat of forty pigs and learns how to fire a crossbow.

The Witchfinder General

2004-01-29

Rory McGrath finds out about the savage witch-hunts of the 1640s, learning how to test for a witch and how to protect himself from witchcraft.

The Monmouth Rebellion

2004-02-05

Investigating the rebellion of 1685, Rory McGrath travels to Dorset, learns how to fire a musket and takes on a horse in a running race.

Jack the Ripper

2004-02-12

Rory McGrath investigates the killings of Jack the Ripper, tracking a villain with a bloodhound to find out whether this method could have caught him.

The Vikings

2004-02-19

Rory McGrath travels to Northumberland to learn the story of a Viking raider nicknamed 'Hairy Trousers' and finds out how to fight Viking-style.

The Welsh Rebellions

2004-02-26

Rory McGrath learns about an attempt to seize Wales from the English in the 1400s, trying out for himself the weapons and techniques used.

The Peasants' Revolt

2004-03-04

Rory McGrath finds out why the peasants stormed London in 1381, learning how they would have fought knights and how many people were beheaded.